A justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has imposed a suspension of six months for an attorney's misconduct in filing and signing a bankruptcy petition on behalf of a husband and wife without ever meeting with the husband, impersonating the husband during a credit counseling phone session and signing a false certification on the husband's behalf.

The Board of Bar Overseers found that the wife had duped the attorney, who did not act in self-interest in the misconduct.

The court rejected the contention that the misconduct was immaterial. (Mike Frisch)